Bas Rutten uses open hand striking?

I was watching a Bas Rutten highlight clip and I noticed that many of his strikes to the head and face are with open hands. It seems unlikely to be an accident, as he does it multiple times and he is successful at knocking people out with them. Is this a trademark of his? Is it because the Pankrase rules don't use gloves and hand injury is possible? I guess I never really thought open hand strikes (except maybe the straight palm cross) had knockout power.

I was watching a Bas Rutten highlight clip and I noticed that many of his strikes to the head and face are with open hands. It seems unlikely to be an accident, as he does it multiple times and he is successful at knocking people out with them. Is this a trademark of his? Is it because the Pankrase rules don't use gloves and hand injury is possible?

It's because Pancrase rules at the time didn't allow closed fist strikes to the head.

I will not mock you for not knowing this, because your first post concerned Bas. This is an automatic internet win.

It's pretty logical really. Ofcourse it hasn't been put through the thorough scientific testing grounds of the UFC, just like machettes that have been known to lose in public to low thai kicks but never accepted an official challenge. We'll never know if knives work until they are filmed and broadcasted over the internet or put in the UFC. 10 000 years of "alleged" use doesn't count.

You can put a lot more force into a palm-strike than a closed punch without taking any damage to your hand. The bones in one's hand, when compared to the bones in the head, are like those of a chicken or a fish. Ofcourse, closed hand punches usually do the same job just as well if you don't aim at the hardest areas, and usually you'd be walking around with a pair of thick gloves anyway so that's not really a problem.

It's pretty logical really. Ofcourse it hasn't been put through the thorough scientific testing grounds of the UFC, just like machettes that have been known to lose in public to low thai kicks but never accepted an official challenge. We'll never know if knives work until they are filmed and broadcasted over the internet or put in the UFC. 10 000 years of "alleged" use doesn't count.

You can put a lot more force into a palm-strike than a closed punch without taking any damage to your hand. The bones in one's hand, when compared to the bones in the head, are like those of a chicken or a fish. Ofcourse, closed hand punches usually do the same job just as well if you don't aim at the hardest areas, and usually you'd be walking around with a pair of thick gloves anyway so that's not really a problem.

It's pretty logical really. Ofcourse it hasn't been put through the thorough scientific testing grounds of the UFC, just like machettes that have been known to lose in public to low thai kicks but never accepted an official challenge. We'll never know if knives work until they are filmed and broadcasted over the internet or put in the UFC. 10 000 years of "alleged" use doesn't count.

You can put a lot more force into a palm-strike than a closed punch without taking any damage to your hand. The bones in one's hand, when compared to the bones in the head, are like those of a chicken or a fish. Ofcourse, closed hand punches usually do the same job just as well if you don't aim at the hardest areas, and usually you'd be walking around with a pair of thick gloves anyway so that's not really a problem.

There is the old argument that open hand strikes are safer in the str33t. Plus they can be made very efficient. On the other hand, it's Bas doing those slaps from hell. Heh not everyone is 'El Guapo'!!!

The street argument is retarded. BJJ is so much overkill for the street that its ridiculous. Unless you're the idiot that picks a fight with the high school wrestling team, barring knife or gun play, the opponent shouldn't make it past double leg + ground and pound - Osiris